Game of skill



Oct. 5, 1937. H. G. BRI-:ITEN's-rElN GAME oF SKILL Filed April 5. 1934 Patented Oct. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE GAME OF SKILL Herbert G. Breitenstein, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 5, 1934, Serial No. 719,074

12 Claims.

The invention relates to a skill game for amusement, the game being of the ball projecting type, and the present improvement particularly relating to a ball switching and trapping device that will serve to make the play of the game more fascinating and enjoyable.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved ball switching and trapping mechanism for the purpose stated.

Another object is to provide a pair or plurality of interconnected devices of the type mentioned and associated with a pair or plurality of ball trap holes, the structure being such that when one device is in ball receiving position relative to the ball trap hole with which it is associated, the other one is closed to prevent a ball from being trapped by the hole with which it in turn is associated.

In the preferred example of the invention herein disclosed these objects. are achieved by providing two spaced pairs of pivoted bell crank lever arrangements. In each pair the longer legs of the bell crank levers extend forwardly. VWhen these longer legs are apart or open they are positioned to receive a properly directed ball gravitating down the inclined play board to trap the ball and cause it to drop through the hole in the board with which the pair of bell cranks is associated. Such movement of the ball closes the longer legs of the bell cranks and through appropriate links causes the other pair of bell cranks associated with another hole to be opened. Thus closing of one pair of bell cranks causes the other pair to open and vice versa.

In the sheet of drawings illustrating a practicable example of the invention:

Figure 1 is` an enlarged general plan view of a ball shooting game showing the improved ball controlled switch and trap means;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the switch and trap means per se, in another position;

Figure 3 is a vertical, longitudinal view, partly in section, as seen along the vline 3 3 appearing in Figure l; and,

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the upper end of the switch and trap means.

The game is of the well-known ball projecting type comprising a box I0 closed at its top by a glass panel II under which is disposed a substantially horizontal but inclined play board I2 having therein a plurality of scattered, main ball receiving holes I3 and an auxiliary hole I4 adjacent a plate I5 to receive spent balls missing the main targets I3. y

A ball shooter I6 is located in the usual place along one edge of the board I2 to shoot balls one at a time around an oval track Il, said balls emerging onto the playing board I2 at I8. Two upper holes I3a and I3b are longitudinally alined in the present embodiment and with these two holes the novel trapping and switching device of the present invention is associated. At each side of the hole I3EL is arranged a vertical pivot pin I9 and on each pin is pivotally mounted a horizontally swingable bell crank lever l0 having forwardly projecting legs 20 and laterally projecting legs 2I. The inner end of one of the legs 2| as best shown in Figure 4 carries a guide pin 22 slidable in a guide slot 23 in the adjoining leg 2l and to the rear of these connected inner 15 ends of said legs 2| is a vertical pin 24 to limit the rearward swinging movement of the levers. The forward edges of these legs are arcuately cut out at 25 to receive a ball which may have entered the trap. A20

Adjacent the rear hole I3b are a pair of vertical pins 26 on which is pivotally mounted a pair of similar bell crank levers also having forwardly extending legs numbered 2'I and inwardly exj tending legs 28. Stop pins 29 are located in back 25 of the legs, These bell cranks 20, 21 as shown in Figure 3 are at a height above the board I2 to be engaged properly by the balls. The inner ends of the legs 28 have their forward edges arcuated at 30 to t the shape of a ball. 30

The inner ends of the legs 2| of the front, or upper device carry upright pins 3| for pivotally connecting the ends of a pair of coupling links 32 respectively to the two bell crank levers 20. Said links 32 at their other ends are pivot- 35 ally connected to pins 33 located at the angles of the respective bell cranks 2'I. These links 32 are raised above the board I2 a suicient distance to permit the projected balls to pass freely thereunder. 40

In operation the starting position of the switch and trap device would be as appears in Figure 2, where the legs 20 of the front pair of bell cranks are open to receive a ball directed to the upper hole |32. As the ball gravitates to the hole I3EL 45 it engages the curved cut outs 25 to pivot the legs 2I away from over the hole I3@ and against the stop pin 24. The ball then drops. into the hole Isa and the legs 20 close to the position shown in Figure 1. As the bell cranks 20 swing 50 closed the links 32 were pushed back to open the closed bell cranks 2l from the position of Figure 2 to the open position of Figure l. The stops 29 limit the swinging movement of the bell cranks 21 in an obvious manner. A subsequently played 55 Cil ball striking the upper closed pair of bell cranks 25 would be switched or deected to one side or the other as it could not now enter the hole ida. However, such ball, or another gravitating down the board i2 could roll under the links 32 and pass to the open hole E31. Such ball would engage the legs 23 when dropping into the hole i310 to pivot the bell cranks Z'i to hole closing position (Figure 2) and at the same time the links 32 push the bell'cranks 2G to open position exposing the hole i313 to receive a ball again.

From this it can be seen that a simple device has been provided for the purposes stated which device achieves the objects heretofore recited.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modiiications not departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a substantially horizontal inclined gaine board having a hole thereinto receive a projected ball, of a device comprising a pair of bell crank levers pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the hole, said levers each having longitudinally and transversely extending legs, and means to limit the swinging movement of said levers.

2. The combination with a substantially horizontal inclined game board having a plurality of holes therein toreceive projected balls gravitating down the board, of a device comprising a pair of bell crank levers associated with each hole, and means interconnecting the pairs of bell crank levers.

3. The combination with a substantially hori- Zontal inclined game board having a pair of holes therein to receive projected balls gravitat-V ing down the board, of a device comprising a pair of bell crank levers associated with each hole, means pivotally mounting the levers so that they may be moved into hole closing or hole exposing position, and means interconnecting the pairs of bell crank levers whereby when one pair of levers is in hole exposing position and receives a ball said one pair of levers is closed and the other pair is moved to hole exposing position.

li. The combination with an inclined game board having a pair of holes therein to receive balls projected across the board, oi a device comprising a pair of pivoted levers embracing each hole, said levers being movable to hole exposing or hole closing positions, and means interconnecting the pair oi levers at one hole with the pair of levers at the other hole.

5. The combination with an inclined game board having a pair of holes therein to receive balls projected across the board, of a device comprising a pair of pivoted bell crank levers having forwardly projecting legs at opposite sides of the holes and transversely projecting legs in back of the holes, there being a pair of such levers associated with each hole, and means connected between the pairs of levers whereby one pair is in hole exposing position and the other is in hole closing position.

6. The combination with an inclined game `board having a pair of holes therein to receive balls projected across the board, oi a device comprising a pair of pivote-d bell crank levers having vforwardly projecting legs at opposite sides of the holes and transversely projecting legs in back or" the holes, there being a pair of such levers associated with each hole, and links connected between the pairs of levers whereby one pair is in hole exposing'position and the other is in hole closing position, said links being raised high enough above the board to permit a ball to pass freely thereunder.

8. A game of the character described, including: a playing neld; means for propelling a marble on said playing field; means forming a score pocket on said playing eld; means movably disposed so as to prevent entry of a marble into said score pocket; and control means operative in consequence of engagement by a marble to move said movable means from a position obstructing the entrance to said score pocket.

9. A game oi the character described, including: a playing eld; means for propelling a marbie on said playing field; means forming a score pocket on said playing field; means forming an adjustable obstruction before score pocket; and means operative by on said playing eld for adjusting said obstruction.

l0. A game of the character described, including: a playing iield; means for propelling a marble on said playing field; means forming a score pocket on said playing field; a normally closed gateway means for preventing entry cf a marble into said score pocket; and means operative by a marble on said playing el'd for opening said gateway.

1l. In a game apparatus, in combination, a game board over which balls may roll, having holes through which balls are adapted to fall, a ball trap on said board, a pair of pivoted levers having ends directed away from the trap, means tending to maintain said ends divergent, and means on said levers adapted to be engaged by a ball to cause said ends to approach each other and close the trap.

l2. The combination with a game board over which balls may roll, inclined from the horizontal and having a hole therein to receive a projected ball, or a device comprising a pair of bell crank levers pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the hole, said levers each having longitudinally and transversely extending legs and being movable to a position to block access to said hole.

HERBERT G. BREITENSTEIN. 

